News
- Text Decrease
- Text Increase
- Print Page
Victoria’s hospitals under pressure
1 June 2011
The latest hospital performance figures show that Victoria’s hospitals are under pressure and are in need of ongoing investment, AMA Victoria President Dr Harry Hemley said today.
Dr Hemley made his comments following the release of the Quarterly Victorian Health Service Performance Report by the Baillieu Government. This report has replaced the Your Hospitals report which was issued biannually by the previous Government.
“These figures show that the additional beds that the Government committed to during the election are sorely needed,” said Dr Hemley. “However, we need to work harder now to plan where these new beds will go and when they will be delivered.”
The Government promised 800 new beds in its first term of Government including 100 beds to be delivered this year.
“The investment in hospital infrastructure announced in the Government’s budget was welcome but these figures show that we are still struggling to keep up with demand. Every patient should be treated in a clinically appropriate timeframe.”
“The Metropolitan Health Plan was a valuable first step but now the Government needs to outline where the new beds will be allocated,” said Dr Hemley.
“It was encouraging to see that the report contained a number of new data sets. This move to greater transparency is a welcome step from the Government and something AMA Victoria has campaigned for over many years.”
“We are eagerly awaiting the release of comprehensive outpatient waiting list data.”
“There are an increasing number of patients being treated in Victorian emergency departments. Our hospitals need continued investment just to keep up with this growing demand let alone to meet more clinical benchmarks.”
Victoria’s 38 emergency departments admitted over 731,000 patients from July to December 2010, an increase from 702,000 in the same time period the previous year.
Of these patients more than 86,000 missed out on emergency department care within clinically appropriate timeframes (categories one to three only) in July to December 2010. This includes patients with severe breathing difficulties, blood loss, severe pain and persistent vomiting.
Preferred Providers
Next
Prev